Collapsible box



A. M. WATSON. COLLAPSIBLE BOX. APPLICATION FILED JULY 21., 1920.

Patented Oct. 5, 1923.

INYENT E11 1 @flm PATENT OFFICE.

AUDLIN MILLER WATSON, OF BELLEFONTAINE, OHIO.

GOLLAPSIBLE BOX.

Application filed July 21, 1920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUnLiN MILLER Vi-arson, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Bellefontaine, in the county of Logan and State of ()hio, have made an invention appertaining to Collapsible Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and'to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to packing boxes, shipping crates, or the like, and particularly to those of the collapsible type.

The object of the invention is the provision of a simple, strong and durable box of the class described, which is constructed in a manner to be easily and quickly folded in, flat compact form for storing or ship ping, or unfolded in usable form, whereby to enhance the practicability and commercial value of devices of this character.

The invention is fully described in the following specification, and while, in its broader aspect, it is capable of embodiment in numerous forms, a preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure l is a top perspective view of a box embodying the invention in set up or unfolded position with the top open. Fig. 2 is a perspective view thereof partly folded, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the box completely folded,

Referring to the drawings, 1 and 2 designate the front and rear sides of a box or container embodying the invention, 3 the bottom thereof, 4 and 5 the opposite ends thereof and 6 the top, which cooperate to form a box or container of square form.

The bottom, front and rear sides and both ends are hinged together at their respec tive meeting edges in any suitable manner, as shown at 7, to permit relative pivotal movement thereof, and the bottom 3 and ends 4 and 5 are each divided into two sections by diagonal hinge joints 8 extending between diagonally opposite corners of the respective bottom or end. The hinge joints 8, 8 of the ends 4 and 5 are disposed in crossing relation, or, in other words, one extends from the upper front corner to the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 5, 1920.

Serial No. 398,012.

lower rear corner of its end. The joint 8 of the bottom connects the lower front and rear corners of the respective ends 4 and 5 which are not connected by the end joints 8, as best shown in Fig. 1.

v The top or cover member 6 is hinged to the top edge of the rear side 2 to adapt it to be swung either in losing relation over the top of the box or into fiatwise abutting relation to the outer side of the side 2. The front edge of the top or cover 6 is provided with a hingedly jointed hasp 9, the outer section of which isprovided with a slot or eye 10 for receiving a loop 11 on the front side 1 when the cover is in closed position.

With this construction of box in order to fold the same into fiat compact form it is only necessary to raise or throw the cover back and then press inward on the sides and ends, in the present instance, at the front right hand corner and the rear left hand corner, which causes an inward collapsing of the two ends along their diagonal hinged lines and an upward inward movement of the bottom along its diagonal hinge line and a quarter turning of the front side with respect to the rear side, so that when the box is completely collapsed the diagonal hinge joints 8, 8 of the ends 4 and 5 will lie in adjoining parallel relation in crossing relation to the hinge joint 8 of the bottom 3, and the hinged edge 7 at the left front edge of the box will lie in adjacent parallel relation to the upper edge of the rear side 2. The folding of the box can also be effected. by grasping the front side with one hand and the rear side with the other hand at the ends thereof and applying a turning stress to the right on the front side and to the left on the rear side to impart a relative quarter turn to the sides, which is permitted by reason of the peculiar jointing of the different sides, ends and bottom of the box. When the box has been folded or collapsed it is secured in such position by turning the hasp 9 back over the adjacent edge of the box, which is permitted by reason of the jointing of the hasp, and placing its slot over a loop 12 on the front side 1, as shown in Fig. 3.

It is evident that I have provided a simple and efficient box which is capable of being easily and quickly collapsed in compact form or unfolded to usable position, as

form as to enable several to be piled one on top of another in compact relation for stor- 7 ing or shipping.

I wish it understood that my invention is not limited to any specific construction, arrangement or form of the parts, as it is capable of numerous modifications and changes without departing from the spirit of the claims.

.Havingthus described my invention, what I-claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,

'1. A collapsible box of rectangular form having a cover member capable of being opened, four sides and a bottom hinged to: gether at theirmeeting edges, the bottom and two opposite sideshaving diagonal hinge jointswhich permit a compact fol-ding of the box upon the application of a relative turning stress on two opposed sides of the box.-

2. A box of the class described, having four sides, a bottom and a cover, the latter being capable of being opened, the sides and bottom having their meeting edges hingedly connected and the bottom and two opposed sides having hinge joints connecting diagonally opposite corners thereof, with the diagonal hinge join-ts of the sides in intersecting planes and with the diagonal hinge joint of the bottom connecting'corners of the sides other than those connected by the side diagonal joints, whereby the box may be folded into 'substantia'lly fiat compact form by imparting a relative quarter turn to the a relative quarter turning ofthe sides,and

a top hinged to the upper edge of one side for folding substantially flatwise against the outer side, and means carried by the top and one side for securing the box in folded position;

4. A square box of the class described, having a bottom,- opposite sides and opposite ends hingedly connected at their meeting edges, the bottom and ends having hinge joints connecting diagonally opposed corners with the diagonal joints of one end disposed in intersecting relation and with the diagonal joint of the bottom connecting corners of the ends other than those connected by the diagonal ointsthereof, whereby a flatwise folding of the box may be ac complished by a relative turning of the sides, cover hinged to one side and adapted to be folded back fiatwise against its outer side, and means'for securing the parts of the box in folded relation.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

AUDLIN MILLER WATSON. 

